title: Premature closure or restriction of the foramen ovale: prenatal diagnosis by directional enhanced flow imaging.
abstract: Premature closure or restriction of the foramen ovale may occur at any time during pregnancy and may be due to various causes. We describe 2 patients with premature closure or restriction of the foramen ovale during the third trimester. In both patients the foramen ovale was detected by directional enhanced flow imaging technology (DeFLOW; Hitachi-Aloka Medical, Ltd, Tokyo, Japan), a novel method of imaging blood flow dynamics. Our findings indicate that D-eFLOW can display blood flow information with higher sensitivity and resolution than conventional methods, helping obstetricians and pregnant women make timely decisions about delivery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ultrasound, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, 2 Anzhen Rd, Chaoyang District, 100029 Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yi-Dan
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhi-An
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yi-Hua
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D005260:Female; D054092:Foramen Ovale, Patent / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000196:embryology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color / Q000379:methods*; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods*
keywords: directional enhanced flow; premature closure or restriction of the foramen ovale; prenatal diagnosis